Apparatus and escape



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l. P. H. SPELMAN. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND ESGAPB.

No. 289,869. Patented Dec. 11, 1883.

AWAY

Nirn STATES ATENT firmer.

PATRICK HENRY SPELMAN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND ESCAPE.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,869, dated December 11, 1853.

Application filed February 2, 1853. (No model.)

fixed fire-escape ladder composed of pipes connected with each other in the usual way.

Another object of the invention is to furnish suitable means for giving a general firealarm throughout the building whenever the device is operated upon, turning the water into the pipes forming the ladder.

I am aware that fire-extinguishers have been constructed so as to be operated by a certain temperature of heat which would ignite a fuse and cause the water to flow, and at the same time operating an electrical circuit-closer which would cause an alarm to be given by a series of electric bells.

} I am also aware that stand-pipes have been constructed with staggered bars projecting therefrom and answering for fire-escape.

I am also aware that a trip-lever has heretofore been applied to an automatic fire-eX- tinguisher and operated by an electro-magnet.

The first part of my invention consists of a reservoir placed in any convenient place on the interior or exterior of the upper part of a building, and is provided with a valve from which the conduit-pipe extends to and is connected with the pipes forming the fire-escape ladder by means of couplings or otherwise. The said valve is operated by alever, one end of which is connected with a rod extending therefrom to the ground floor of the building.

The second part of my invention consists of a clutch-plate and trip-lever. The former is composed of metal provided with an aperture, through which the rod of the reservoir valvelever passes. Saidclutchplate swings on a hinge made fast to the floor. The trip-lever is also composed of metal with a bevel enlargement at one end. Said lever swings on a fulcrum placed a little beyond the center toward the bevel end.

The third part of my invention consists of a Said lever is also metallic ball with an insulated block passing into the body thereof, both of which are mounted on a lever having its fulcrum supported by a bracket made fast to the wall. provided with an elongated slot, through which the rod of the valve lever passes. The metallic ball has a wire electrically conn ected therewith, and is provided with an insulated sleeve. The said metallic ball, when raised, comes in contact with a metallic spring having a wire electrically connected therewith-and extending therefrom to aseries of electric balls made in the usual way.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the front of abuilding, showing the permanently-fixed fire-escape waterladder, and a part of the building is broken away to show my invention as being connected with the said ladder. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the clutch-plate and trip-lever. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the electrical circuit-closer. Fig. 5 represents aplan and part section of the same. Fig. 6 represents a-section of the reservoir, showing the valve connected with the operating-lever.

In the drawings, A is the reservoir. B is the valve. 0 is the conduit-pipe leading therefrom to the pipes forming the water-ladder D. E is the lever, one end of which is connected with the valve B. The other end is I connected with the lever-rod F,which extends therefrom to the ground floor. G is the clutchplate, which swings on the hinge H. I is the trip-lever,provided with a bevel enlargement, K. L is the fulcrum on which it swings. M is the bracket, made fast to the wall of the building. N is the lever, having its fulcrum connected with the bracket M. O is the elongated slotthrough whichthe lever-rodF passes. Said rod is provided with two stop-collars, a b, which operate the said lever. P is the insulated block, mounted on the end of the lever N. Q is the metallic ball, mounted on the said insulated block 1?. R is the wire, electrically connected with said ball Q. S is the insulated sleeve covering the wire R. T is the metallic spring having the wire U electrically connected therewith, and extending therefrom to a series of electric bells, 1 2 ,3 4, of the usual construction, placed in any convenient place within 2 asaeea the building. wires R and U are connected with a battery in the usual way.

Mode of operation: Whenever an occupant of the building discovers a fire on either of the several stories of the same,it is his dutyto pull down on the lever-rod F and with his foot ,move the trip -lever I so that the bevel enlargement K will press under the clutch-plate G, which slightly raises the same,thereby lockin g it, thus preventing the rod from moving either up or down. This operation causes the valve B of the reservoir A to open, thus allowing the water to flow through theconduit-pipe O to the pipes forming the water-ladder D at the same time the stop-collar a presses down on the lever N, in which movement the metallic ball presses up against themetallic spring T, which closes the circuit through the bells, causing them to keep up a constant ringing. thereby give he fire-alarm within hearing of each and every occupant.

I do not confine myself to any particular way in which the water may be shut off or on to a water-ladder composed of pipes, as pulleys with ropes and springs may be used instead of lever and rod; neither do I wish to confine myself to any particular way in which an alarm may be given when the rod is in operation, as I am aware that the bell-crank or pneumatic-tube system for giving the alarm of fire may be connected with the rod or rope oper- It will be understood that the ating the valve of the reservoirs without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Broadly, in combination with awater-ladder, a reservoir with a conduit leading therefrom and connected with the pipes forming the rails of the ladder, and a Valve with operatinglever, having a rod connected therewith and extending therefrom to the ground floor of a building.

2. In a water-ladder, the combination, substantially as shown and described, of the reservoir A, conduit O,Valve B, lever E, and rod'F.

3. The combination, substantially as shown and described, of the clutch-plate Gand hinge H with the trip-lever I, having beveled enlargement K.

4. In a fire extinguisher and escape, the combination, substantially as shown and described, of the rod F, lever N, bracket M, insulated block 1?, metallic ball Q, and electric bells 1 2 3.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of January, A. D. 1883.

PATRICK HENRY SPELMAN.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. HURDLE, JOHN WV. GRUMP. 

